A Fresh Take on a Timeless Classic: The Royal Shakespeare Company’s "Hamlet"
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s latest production of Hamlet, directed by Rupert Goold, offers a bold and imaginative reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy. Set on a tilting ship’s deck, the play evokes the eerie, unsettling atmosphere of a vessel navigating treacherous waters. The stage, designed by the ingenious Es Devlin, features a screen displaying a roiling ocean, while the set itself shifts and creaks during key moments. At times, the actors break into moments of panic, wearing Edwardian-style life vests reminiscent of the Titanic, hinting at the tragic fate awaiting the characters. This unconventional setting is a risky choice, but it pays off, grounding the play in a sense of instability and foreboding that resonates throughout.
Luke Thallon Shine as Hamlet
At the heart of this production is Luke Thallon’s extraordinary performance as Hamlet, the tormented Danish prince. Already grappling with the loss of his father and the hasty remarriage of his mother, Queen Gertrude (played by Nancy Carroll), to his uncle Claudius (Jared Harris), Hamlet is thrust into a labyrinth of moral and psychological complexity when he learns of Claudius’s role in his father’s murder. Thallon captures Hamlet’s anguish with a raw, vulnerable intensity, delivering his lines with a halting, conversational rhythm that feels deeply personal. His performance is both physically expressive and emotionally nuanced, conveying the prince’s internal turmoil through a mixture of nervous energy and introspective stillness.
Thallon’s ability to connect with the audience adds another layer of depth to his portrayal. At times, he seeks their engagement with knowing glances, wry smiles, or self-aware poses, drawing them into Hamlet’s inner world. His performance is deeply human and relatable, making Hamlet’s struggles feel both timeless and urgently contemporary. Thallon’s rising star status is cemented in this production, as he brings a fresh, modern energy to the iconic role.
A Stellar Supporting Cast
The supporting cast of this Hamlet delivers equally impressive performances, enriching the production’s emotional and dramatic landscape. Nancy Carroll’s Queen Gertrude is a study in repressed guilt and brittle composure, her frigid demeanor reflecting the emotional distance she maintains from her son. Jared Harris, as Claudius, exudes a quiet menace, his portrayal of the usurping king laced with a sense of wary calculation.
Anton Lesser, as the ghost of Hamlet’s father, delivers a chilling performance, his incantatory delivery sending shivers down the spine. Meanwhile, Elliot Levey brings a touch of dark comedy to the role of Polonius, portraying the sycophantic counselor as a self-important, slimy figure whose attempts to curry favor with the royal family ultimately lead to his downfall. His scenes with Nia Towle’s Ophelia, Polonius’s doomed daughter, are particularly poignant, highlighting the devastating consequences of his blind ambition.
A Visually Stunning and Thought-Provoking Production
Visually, the production is a triumph, with Devlin’s set design and the haunting oceanic imagery creating a sense of constant unease. The use of a tilting deck adds a physical dimension to the drama, particularly in the final moments when the bodies of Gertrude, Laertes, and Claudius slide down the deck, leaving Hamlet alone to confront his fate. The gravedigger scene is especially inventive, with Yorick’s skull rolling down the deck to Hamlet in a moment of macabre humor.
However, not every element of the production is without its flaws. The inclusion of a large digital clock, meant to signify the compressed timeline of the play, feels overly explicit and disrupts the otherwise fluid pacing. Similarly, the nod to the Titanic—with its life vests and sinking ship motif—feels somewhat forced, as the connection between the doomed ocean liner and the political intrigue of 17th-century Denmark is not entirely clear. While the metaphor adds a sense of impending disaster, it occasionally distracts from the play’s core themes.
The Power of a Timeless Tragedy
Despite these minor missteps, the production remains deeply compelling, thanks to its strong performances, striking visuals, and thoughtful direction. The famous “Mousetrap” scene is a standout, delivered as a crisply choreographed mime accompanied by unsettling vocal harmonies. Moments of dark humor, such as an actor’s exaggerated stretches before the performance, add levity without detracting from the play’s tragic momentum. The pacing is brisk, with the two-and-a-half-hour runtime feeling surprisingly concise.
Above all, this Hamlet is a testament to the enduring power of Shakespeare’s work to resonate with contemporary audiences. Thallon’s performance, in particular, captures the prince’s inner turmoil with a raw, unflinching honesty that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. His portrayal of Hamlet as a conflicted, anxious figure speaks to our own uncertain times, making this production a fitting adaptation of the play for the modern age.
Conclusion
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Hamlet is a bold and imaginative take on a classic tale, offering a fresh perspective while staying true to the play’s timeless themes of ambition, revenge, and mortality. With a stellar cast, a visually stunning set, and a deeply human performance from Luke Thallon, this production is a must-see for fans of Shakespeare and theater alike. As the play hurtles toward its tragic conclusion, the audience is left with a profound sense of loss and reflection, reminded of the enduring relevance of Hamlet’s exploration of the human condition. A London transfer seems inevitable, ensuring that this remarkable production will reach an even wider audience.
